The Daily Northwestern — February 19, 2020

The Daily Northwestern Wednesday, February 19, 2020

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My near-death experiences at NU

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New NU-Q dean named, starts July 1 Marwan Kraidy, now at Penn, to take over role abroad

By YUNKYO KIM

the daily northwestern @yunkyomoonk

Provost Jonathan Holloway announced in a Tuesday release that Marwan Kraidy will be the new dean and CEO of Northwestern University in Qatar, effective July 1.

Kraidy is an associate dean for administration and professor of global communications at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. In his new position, he will also hold a named chair and tenure.

The Lebanon native’s knowledge of the Middle East made him an appropriate candidate for the role, the release said.

At UPenn, where Kraidy also serves as Annenberg’s associate dean for graduate studies, he founded and directs the Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication, a research program that studies globalization with an emphasis on representation.

Through his research in identity, culture and geopolitics, Kraidy received fellowships from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and more.

“I am very excited to appoint

Marwan Kraidy as the dean of NU-Q,” Holloway said in the release. “In our search for a leader to fill this vitally important role, it quickly became clear that Marwan was the right person to guide NU-Q in this critical time. I am thrilled for Marwan and for our Qatar campus. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead and to advocate for all members of the NU-Q community.”

The announcement came to the Northwestern community after months of vacancy. Former NU-Q Dean Everette Dennis stepped down on Jan. 1 to take family health leave. Dennis will return as a tenured faculty member at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. In Dennis’ absence, NU-Q’s professor in residence Craig LaMay served as acting dean.

Looking ahead, Kraidy said Northwestern’s presence and proximity to media industries and educational institutions put the University in a unique position to expand its impact in the world.

“I am honored and delighted to be the next NU-Q dean,” Kraidy told Northwestern Now. “The future of education is global, interdisciplinary, and digital. With its formidable faculty, talented staff and bright students, NU-Q is uniquely positioned to shape that future. I look forward to leading this special community to new heights, and deepen our impact on Northwestern and the world.” yunkyokim2022@u.northwestern.edu

Jason Beeferman/The Daily Northwestern

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville). Underwood spoke at an Indivisible Evanston event regarding her election campaign against Republican Jim Oberweis.

Underwood asks for local support Rep. Lauren Underwood talks re-election at Indivisible Evanston meeting

By JASON BEEFERMAN

the daily northwestern

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) spoke to Evanston residents Tuesday about her work in Congress, and asked for support in her re-election campaign in the historically-red District 14.

Underwood became the first black woman to ever hold the

seat in 2019. Referencing her district’s right-leaning voting patterns, where the approval rating for President Donald Trump is usually “three or four points higher” than the national figure, Underwood emphasized that her re-election will not be easy.

“President Trump is more popular right now than he’s been at any other point in his presidency,” Underwood said. “We have our work cut out for us.”

The event, held at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, was hosted by Indivisible Evanston, one of thousands of local chapters within the nationwide Indivisible movement. Indivisible launched after Trump’s 2016 election and aims to energize voters against the Trump agenda and advocates for the values of inclusion, tolerance and fairness.

Underwood said her biggest challenger is Republican

Jim Oberweis, a businessman and owner of Oberweis Dairy who currently serves in the Illinois Senate. Underwood called her opponent’s finances into question and said his views are “bigoted.”

“He’s somebody who’s extremely wealthy, but all those earnings are sitting in the state of Florida with his wife, where » See UNDERWOOD, page 7

Creator discusses Native artwork IL for Warren opens Ernest M. Whiteman III shared relationship with work, identity

By MATT MARTH

the daily northwestern @htramttam

Artist, filmmaker and educator Ernest M. Whiteman III discussed his work and his relationship to his Native American identity in a talk at the Evanston Public Library on Tuesday.

Several of Whiteman’s works, including drawings and digital art, are on display at the Evanston library in his show entitled “ICONOCLAST: Or How I Stopped Worrying About ‘Native American Art’ and Just Be Northern Arapaho.”

Whiteman is a member of the Northern Arapaho tribe and grew up on the Wind River Indian Reservation located in central Wyoming. He now lives in Chicago, where he practices art and has taught classes in Chicago Public Schools and at the University of Wisconsin on film » See WHITEMAN, page 7

new office downtown New location comes about a month ahead of state’s primary

By MAIA SPOTO

the daily northwestern @maia_spoto

Caroline Megerian/Daily Senior Staffer

Ernest M. Whiteman III. Whiteman is a member of the Northern Arapaho tribe and spoke about challenging understandings of Native American art.

Serving the University and Evanston since 1881

To rally grassroots support for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) presidential primary run, Illinois for Warren opened its Evanston Office, 1642 Maple Ave., on Tuesday with endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) and former state Sen. Daniel Biss.

According to a Quinnipiac University national poll released Feb. 10, Warren polls at 14 percent support nationwide, behind U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Vice President Joe Biden and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Jumping into Downtown Evanston 28 days before the Illinois Democratic Primary, the

new Illinois for Warren office will support canvassing and phone bank efforts on behalf of Warren. Biss and Schakowsky encouraged an overflowing room of Warren supporters to call other voters and campaign for the nominee, lauding Warren’s plans for government accountability and structural change.

“It’s the people-to-people contact that makes a difference,” Schakowsky said. “Talk to someone about why you personally believe in Elizabeth Warren as the woman who can get things done.”

Schakowsky said Evanston is an “activist community” that aligns with Warren’s politics.

She cited Evanston organizers’ high impact on former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign as evidence of the city’s progressive energy and political strength.

Additionally, Schakowsky said Warren will unify the » See WARREN, page 7

INSIDE: Around Town 2 | On Campus 3 | Opinion 4 | Classifieds & Puzzles 6 | Sports 8

2 NEWS | THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020

AROUND TOWN Voters consider Midwestern values in 2020 candidates

By ISABELLE SARRAF

the daily northwestern @isabellesarraf

With the Illinois Democratic primary one month away, many Evanston voters are still deciding who to vote for in the 2020 presidential race.

There are still many primary elections to come — including the Super Tuesday states of California and Texas — before Illinois residents cast their votes.

The two Midwestern candidates, Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), have been adamant about how they’re bringing Midwestern values to their campaigns.

Not many candidates have begun campaigning in the Chicago area, but Evanston residents and representatives have already started making their cases for their preferred candidates.

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) attended last week’s Democratic Party of Evanston endorsement session in support of presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

She said she stands by her November endorsement of the Senator because she believes in Warren’s progressive views and bold plans of action.

Schakowsky cited income inequality, universal preschool, tackling pharmaceutical companies and Medicare for All as some of the many reasons why she believes Warren would be the most suited for the office of the presidency.

“This is the richest country in the world,” Schakowsky said. “It’s outrageous that we don’t have healthcare for all, like every other industrialized

POLICE BLOTTER Woman arrested for disorderly conduct

A 29-year-old Evanston woman was arrested on Monday around 9:30 p.m. for disorderly conduct. On Saturday around 10:15 a.m. on

Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS

Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar speaks at the “2019 We The People Membership Forum” on April 1, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota, has emphasized Midwestern values in her campaign.

nation.”

Debra Shore, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, said she supports Buttigieg. Coming from the Midwest, she said he has shown the ability to speak to “heartland values with heartland messages.”

Citing Buttigieg’s success in many rural counties in Iowa, Shore said Buttigieg has demonstrated the ability to attract independents and former Trump

supporters which can turn the tide of the general election.

“Pete has a unique set of skills and experiences that matches no one else in the field,” Shore said.

Ginny Darakjian, former president of the Democratic Party of Evanston, said the Midwestern values held by a presidential candidate do not play a role in her decision on who to vote for in the primary.

The way in which candidates can earn her vote, she

Michigan Avenue, the 29-year-old woman reportedly placed a derogatory sign on another woman’s parking spot, Evanston police Cmdr.

Brian Henry said.

After the sign was reported, police investigated using nearby surveillance footage. They were able to identify the suspect and arrested her

for disorderly conduct two days after the incident.

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Liquor stolen from Sam’s Club

A bottle of liquor, valued at almost $32, was stolen from the Sam’s Club in the 2400 block of Main Street around 3 p.m. on Monday. The suspect was stopped by store security after he

said, is by aligning with the same principles and values she holds, and how they uphold those values.

Calling this year’s Iowa Caucus a “fiasco,” Darakjian said she doesn’t believe the Iowan population accurately reflects America, let alone the state of Illinois. She said she hopes Illinois will make a “rational” choice in the March primary, and that the state’s diverse population and values are shared across the country.

“The overarching question,” Darakjian said, “is who is going to be able to bring an end to this national nightmare and get a Democrat into the White House.”

FiveThirtyEight projects U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to win nearly one-third of the vote in the Illinois Democratic Primary, with the moderate vote split among Buttigieg, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden. Still, with Klobuchar’s unanticipated third-place finish in the New Hampshire primary, her broad appeal to moderate Democrats has resonated with Evanston residents.

Chicago resident John Fitzgerald, who advocated for Klobuchar at the DPOE endorsement session, said it is imperative that the Democratic Party’s nominee wins the American heartland in the general election in order to beat President Donald Trump. He emphasized that galvanizing women to vote could be key to Democrats winning the election. “(Klobuchar) is a very accomplished senator,” Fitzgerald said. “She speaks to women, she speaks to minorities… She finds common ground with people.” isabellesarraf2022@u.northwestern.edu walked past the last point of purchase, Henry said.

The police were called, but no charges were filed. The man was told he would no longer be allowed to enter the store. ­— Molly Burke

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020

ON CAMPUS NU personnel discuss Morrison, Lorde

The Daily Northwestern

the daily northwestern @yunkyomoonk

General Manager Stacia Campbell

www.dailynorthwestern.com Editor in Chief Troy Closson

eic@dailynorthwestern.com

By YUNKYO KIM

stacia@dailynorthwestern.com

Artist-in-residence M. Carmen Lane and art theory and practiceProf. Michael Rakowitz engaged in a conversation about ancestry, dispossession and expression at Tuesday’s session of Memorializing Dialogue at the Block Museum of Art. “Memorializing” is a year-long conversation series hosted in partnership between Northwestern and the Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities. It invites distinguished artists and scholars to have candid discussions on “commemorating, contesting and claiming.”

But the conversation between Lane and Rakowitz took a particularly timely meaning — Feb. 18 marks the posthumous birthdays of Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison. The dialogue between the artists commemorated Lorde and Morrison’s legacies, structured by textual prompts from the authors’ works.

Citing a famous Morrison quote — “when you kill the ancestor, you kill yourself,” — Lane said family history was important to preserve because it represented memories from generations of their family lost due to slavery and move from the rural South to urban North.

“In my own family and in my own work, I’m (attempting) to reclaim relationships between the ancestors because I am aware of the costs of their absence,” they said. “I really see my work as a human being and as an artist to really complete things and to have no unfinished business in my own family line.”

In doing so, Lane’s work also touches heavily upon death and mourning as a theme. Their 2018 art piece, “Ken’nahsa:ke/Khson:ne: On My Tongue, On My Back (Family Tree),” displayed a table sitting in front of red wallpaper surrounded

by Lane’s family artifacts.

The mixed-media construction with a black body bag represents the mistreatment of the body

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of Lane’s great-grandmother, which represents the impact of intergenerational trauma, they said.

The artist, writer and doula also founded and directed ATNSC: Center for Healing & Creative Leadership, an urban retreat space and experience, devoted to leadership and healing.

Presenting an old photograph of his grandmother and mother taken in Baghdad, Rakowitz discussed the Iraqi-American experience after 9/11. Despite fighting against sentiments of hostility and discrimination of performing his ethnic identity, Rakowitz said his parents chose to preserve his culture.

Rakowitz initiated paraSITE in 1998, an ongoing project in which the artist built customized inflatable shelters for homeless people, which attach to exterior vents of a building to provide a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system.

In 2018, the artist also installed a 14-foot winged sculpture depicting the Lamassu, a Sumerian Protective deity entitled “The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist.”

Angela Tate, a third-year graduate student studying history, said she came to the event

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"Animal House" Wed. 2/19/20

ACROSS 1 Turn over 5 Brunch dish 9 Family men 13 "____ boy!"

14 Switch add-on 15 Take a second cut?

16 Nominate again 18 Home _____ 19 *Backstab 21 "Carmen" and "The

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Shake back and forth Foil *Prosecutor's challenge Cyber Monday festivities Amtrak experience George of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Incline "Broccoli" rapper

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Stockholm folks One-of-a-kind pets Class backers Glassmaking ingredient Betting guidelines Line assembler Dozens of mos.

How improvisors play it A pastime of yours, and what literally begins each starred

dailynorthwestern.com/crossword 58 61 62 63

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because she also creates art rooted in activism.

Having extensively studied museums and the process for art pieces, she said she wanted to observe an important conversation.

“Institutions that hold archives tend to be spaces that have traditionally just collected like white families, prominent people,” Tate said. “If you are actually doing this work, you are doing the work of an archivist.”

Lisa Corrin, director of Block Museum, attended the event. She said the featured artists both created moving and innovative works.

It is important that both artists memorialized Lorde and Morrison, Corrin said. Given their transformative works, she said the conversation between the artists demonstrates what makes their art “tick.”

“Here is an artist who is taking that form and connecting it to their personal history, but making a statement that has universal significance, because it’s about the ancestors which we all have,” Corrin said. “I think the work is quite very beautiful.”

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ACROSS 1 Turn over 5 Brunch dish 9 Family men 13 "____ boy!"

14 Switch add-on 15 Take a second cut?

16 Nominate again 18 Home _____ 19 *Backstab 21 "Carmen" and "The Magic Flute" 23 Wrath 24 What Ali stings like 25 Airhead 26 *Double-source vehicles 30 Pizza place option 32 Raptors, on scoreboards 33 Play place 34 Stitch up 36 Robot of Jewish lore 40 Prior to 42 Accumulating 44 *Big pig haters 48 Opposite of humanities, abbr.

49 Coffee alternative 50 Shake back and forth 51 Foil 53 *Prosecutor's challenge 57 Cyber Monday festivities 58 Amtrak experience 61 George of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

62 Incline 63 "Broccoli" rapper 64 Uno, dos, ____ 65 To ____ (perfectly) 66 Dispatched

DOWN 1 Needled tree 2 4G upgrade 3 Ferdinand's queen 4 Phantom menace 5 Gender-ambiguous term 6 Musical monologue 7 "The Interview" producers 8 Bragger's insides 9 Cold cut spot 10 Tiny shape-shifter 11 Unfortunate party 12 Stockholm folks 15 One-of-a-kind pets 17 Class backers 20 Glassmaking ingredient 21 Betting guidelines 22 Line assembler 27 Dozens of mos.

28 How improvisors play it 29 A pastime of yours, and what literally begins each starred answer 31 "Fine."

35 Iraq war issue, abbr.

37 Motivated (under) 38 Fuel purpose, abbr.

39 "Electric Feel" band 41 Israeli diplomat Abba 43 Straddling 44 Ideally 45 Spay 46 Parking spot 47 "______ Feeling" (Black Eyed Peas hit) 52 Babe 54 Portuguese sailor Bartolomeu 55 Stress over 56 Glass rectangle 59 ____ Ryan (major Chicago expressway) 60 Life saver

OPINION

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Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Navigating my near-death experiences at Northwestern CHIBUZO IKONTE

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

Three years ago to this day, I collapsed and went into cardiac arrest while playing basketball. My heart stopped and blood no longer flowed to my brain. Fortunately, I already had an internal defibrillator implanted in my chest in October 2013 after I survived a similar incident in high school.

Amazingly, that small device was able to shock my heart and spare my life.

A friend of mine who witnessed the event described me as lying lifeless on the ground before spurting up. I remember jolting up off the ground in a delirious state. I kept pleading, “Do not let me die, do not let me die.” It took several minutes to calm down and regain my bearings. I was rushed to the hospital where I spent the weekend undergoing a wide range of tests and receiving care.

Without a doubt, this day continues to be one of the scariest moments of my life. In the long run, that experience is something that has helped strengthen my resolve to overcome any type of adversity I face. It has taught me to keep moving forward regardless of the circumstances and to enjoy every single moment of life.

As I have learned through this experience, the world does not wait for anyone. Life keeps moving, and it is my responsibility to pick myself up and push along as well. The week that I collapsed was also a week in which I had many assignments to complete and exams in microeconomics and multivariable calculus, challenging classes I knew I did not want to to fall behind on.

I was scared and needed help. Unfortunately, I did not receive any from the University. The only option the school offered me was to take a leave of absence and withdraw from all my classes, which I did not want to do. I asked for permission to make up the exams that I missed. That request was denied, and no support was provided.

The most irritable part of the experience was that in the most extreme circumstance, my serious health adversity was treated no different from a common cold. It was extremely frustrating to miss a whole week of school under these circumstances and having to play catch up, knowing that my only other alternative was to withdraw from the entire quarter. This was the worst option and would have significantly affected my mental health negatively. But it was the only one, and my GPA consequently took a deep dive.

Following this, I was registered for AccessibleNU, which was supposed to work with the school to grant more accommodations should a similar incident occur. I vividly remember expressing my concerns and doubts that they would actually provide the promised support in such an event.

Due to a misdiagnosis a few years back, I underwent a major surgery earlier this month and was on bedrest in the hospital the entire weekend. I promptly reached out to AccessibleNU asking for the promised accommodations in my classes. In one of my economics classes, I received a one-day extension that I requested for a problem set. However, in another economics course, I was told to refer to the policies of the syllabus if I was not able to turn in the assignment. AccessibleNU did not even try to help me with at least taking my exam one day later.

I am well aware of the different policies in place and situations that can make it difficult

to accommodate special requests. The AccessibleNU mission statement claims that the organization “has a legal and ethical responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations and services to all students registered with the office” in order to “provide equal access to academic and co-curricular components of a Northwestern education.”

My heart stopped and blood no longer flowed to my brain, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness on how this University has molded me.

At the minimum, I expected that when faced with experiencing a near death situation, spending the entire weekend in the hospital and recovering from major surgery, there would at least be some level of understanding. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Needless to say, this mention was the second time that I have been treated this way. To say the least, I feel betrayed with very little value placed on my life.

I wanted to share these two distinct experiences with the University to hopefully drive a positive change. Grades this quarter may be inconsequential for me, but there are numerous Northwestern students right now or those in the future who may not be as fortunate or have the ability to take time off.

The school needs to understand that cannot be the only feasible option.

One way forward is opening up a dialogue between the student and professor where proper accommodation can be made. I felt

like I was being punished for surviving. Had the story been different, the University most likely would have sent grief counselors or done something for parents to show concern even when none was shown. The lack of communication from the University showed me they didn’t care about my well-being.

These two instances presented opportunities for the process to work. Unfortunately, it did not.

I only wanted a fair playing field.

While in the hospital, I was determined to ensure this unfortunate event would not characterize my life trajectory. I wanted to use it as motivation to continue pursuing my goals undeterred of whatever I endured. I am confidently writing that I have accomplished all I set out to do when I stepped on this campus in the fall of 2016. I will be graduating with a degree in economics and statistics and working in downtown Chicago thereafter.

As I reflect upon my experiences at Northwestern, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness on how this University has molded me. Conversely, I am also incredibly disappointed in the treatment that I received at one of the most trying times of my entire life. I hope the words that I have written, and possible solutions that I have offered are taken earnestly. My wish is that if there are Northwestern students faced with similar situations in the future, they do not have to endure what I and others endured during our time of need.

Chibuzo Ikonte is a Weinberg senior. He can be contacted chibuzoikonte2020@u.northwestern.edu.

If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

When it comes to state and local elections, less can be more ZACH BRIGHT

OPINION EDITOR

This is the fifth and final column in “Democracy Do-Over,” a weekly series exploring and making the case for improvements in how we elect public servants and ensure effective representation by all levels of government.

When I voted in my first general election last in 2018, I cast my ballot for the governor of Florida. Then, my U.S. House representative. Then, a number of state offices and judges. Next came my state senator, state house representative and school board.

After that were numerous state ballot initiatives and county charter questions that I was either vaguely familiar with or had to do some research on before making my choices.

Then my hospital board? I didn’t even know we had a hospital board, or frankly what their responsibilities entail.

It can be easy to get swept up in the idea that democracy is great. Evidently, it is the

preferred form of government, with a majority of nations’ governments operating as one.

However, when it comes to the minutiae of local government, there can be a thing as too much. There are a plethora of decisions voters have to make at the polls. If offices are too obscure for voters to know enough about, then votes can be cast on an uneducated basis. As a result, elections to low level offices can result in unqualified candidates winning.

Ultimately, state and local elections are fundamentally important to our democracy. But it’s important to ask, are there too many to keep track of ?

It might appear that something like a hospital board lacks power. Similar positions on soil and water management boards, liquor control boards and railroad commissions populate ballots in places across the country. The duties overseen by these offices are

crucial to the communities they are elected to serve.

For instance, a soil and water management board is often the sole local unit of government in a community in charge of conserving natural resources. This can have tremendous effects on local communities in regard to environmental protection or degradation, often more so than a federal statute might.

It would seem, therefore, that voters should be empowered to choose who will represent them in seats that would impact them the most. For some communities, they might value this opportunity to determine these decisions. People know even less about their local and state governments. They can get consumed with national politics, and even then many aren’t well-informed about their state and local representatives. When it comes to this smaller level, they more often than not know less about what might be happening in their own backyard.

Because these positions have such consequential impacts, the problem with letting the public determine the officeholder is that they simply aren’t sure what each position has authority over. That being so, such positions might be better managed if determined on a meritocratic basis rather than through a

popular vote. A winning candidate might be able to come away victorious in an election, but they might be a poor choice at actually implementing effective measures to ensure that water management is thoroughly managed and maintained, for example.

The takeaway by no means should not be to eliminate state and local offices across the board. Rather, there should be more active efforts to inform and educate younger generations about these positions if they are important and should be voted on by the electorate. At the same time, there are plenty of obscure offices whose officeholders do not need to be settled at a hyperlocal level, and doing away with those elections might be a good thing.

Ultimately, state and local elections are fundamentally important to our democracy.

But it’s important to ask, are there too many to keep track of ?

Zach Bright is a Medill sophomore. He can be contacted at zacharybright2022@u.northwestern.edu.

If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

The Daily Northwestern Volume 141, Issue 31 Editor in Chief Troy Closson

Managing Editors Gabby Birenbaum Samantha Handler Marissa Martinez Heena Srivastava

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR may be sent to 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, via fax at 847-491-9905, via e-mail to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com or by dropping a letter in the box outside The Daily office.

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• Should be fewer than 400 words They will be checked for authenticity and may be edited for length, clarity, style and grammar.

Opinion Editor Zach Bright

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Letters, columns and cartoons contain the opinion of the authors, not Students Publishing Co. Inc. Submissions signed by more than three people must include at least one and no more than three names designated to represent the group.

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THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN | NEWS 5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020

Gilbert talks WaPo, media engagement strategies

By JACOB FULTON

the daily northwestern @jacobnfulton1

Jeremy Gilbert, the director of strategic initiatives at the Washington Post, spoke to students and faculty about how educational leaders can transform future media strategies in a Medill-sponsored event on Tuesday.

Having witnessed the publication develop from a mainly local newspaper to one with national reputation, Gilbert said he has watched traffic and revenue move from print to digital as he worked to integrate advertising with innovative content. He said the shift mainly occurred between late 2013 and late 2016, when the paper nearly tripled its audience reach as it began to expand its online presence.

Gilbert also said another change in philosophy contributed to the publication’s digital expansion: The paper increased its online output from approximately 200 to about 400 stories on a daily basis, focusing more on finding unique ways to connect with the audience.

“At the Post, individual reporters have the responsibility to think about their audience, as well as the topics they cover and how they connect,” Gilbert said.

The Post has also worked on implementing new technologies, such as augmented reality, into print and online publications since 2015 to increase reader engagement with stories, he said.

Medill Prof. Owen Youngman, the Knight chair in digital media strategy, was responsible for coordinating the event. He said Gilbert’s insight would prove invaluable for students and faculty as Medill evaluates its role in the changing journalism landscape moving forward.

He said he hoped Gilbert’s work at the Post would show attendees the potential young journalists have to evolve the face of media in the coming years. One of the priorities both Youngman and Gilbert stressed was the importance of collaboration as media outlets look to incorporate multiple disciplines into their coverage.

“Far from being helpless in the face of technological change, journalists have the ability to leverage tools to tell stories in powerful and impactful ways and sustain the work of journalism,” Youngman said.

Youngman said he was optimistic after the presentation because Gilbert’s speech proved how many possibilities Northwestern provides as it educates the next generation of journalists.

Specifically, Gilbert mentioned a short animation the Post created, which follows the aftermath of a school shooting in South Carolina as an example

highlighting the ways journalists can expand their coverage in meaningful ways.

Gilbert said the animation was the Post’s first augmented reality short film, and was entered into multiple film festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival. Though the immersive experience has been shown to a smaller audience compared to other Post content, he said the impact of the story signifies a possible change in the industry.

“The idea that a handful of people have a powerful storytelling experience shows potentially where we might end up,” Gilbert said.

Medill junior Justine Banbury attended the event, and said she was drawn to it because of the way Gilbert’s role at the Post met the intersection of her interests in digital media and creative storytelling.

Banbury said she walked away with a sense of excitement around the existing possibilities in the field, though she was surprised at the ways many major publications are falling behind in innovation.

“There’s a lot of missed opportunities in the news that we’re consuming right now,” Banbury said. “So one of my biggest takeaways was the potential the industry has that a lot of publications haven’t capitalized on yet.” jacobfulton2023@u.northwestern.edu

Jacob Fulton/The Daily Northwestern

Jeremy Gilbert. Gilbert is the director of strategic initiatives at the Washington Post, and he talked to Medill students and faculty on Tuesday about the changing media landscape.

Girl Scouts brighten NU with smiles, cookies for students

By EMILY SAKAI

the daily northwestern

For students walking down Sheridan Road to Monday morning classes, a sweet surprise awaited them: troops selling Girl Scouts Cookies.

Groups of Scouts and parents set up tables at various locations across campus, including in front of the Technological Institute and the Weber Arch.

“I see them everywhere,” Weinberg freshman Lucy Gund said. “And I’ve been tempted because they’re just so cute.”

The Girls Scouts of the United States of America, a historic organization dedicated to developing leadership in female-identifying children, began selling cookies to finance programs as early as 1917.

Since then, Girl Scout cookie sales have expanded with the organization selling about 200 million boxes every year, according to USA Today. Thin Mints are the most popular cookie, along with Samoas, which are interchangeably called Caramel deLites.

Troops took advantage of the fact that many of the Evanston-area Girl Scouts were free on Monday because schools in Evanston and Skokie’s district, District 65, were closed for Presidents’Day. Northwestern was still in session, leading to a lot of foot traffic in front of their tables.

Many students stopped to purchase their favorites, including McCormick freshman Mackenzie Mattone, who bought Thin Mints from a Girl Scout in a cookie costume before heading to class in Tech.

“I only bought one box because I only had $5 on me,” Mattone said. “But it’s definitely fitting for them to come here. College kids are hungry.”

The University is one of many locations where Girl Scouts in the Evanston service unit can sign up to sell cookies, said Claire Koster, who leads a Girl Scout troop in Evanston.

Koster, a SESP sophomore, became involved with the Girl Scouts when a friend reached out to her about leading an Evanston troop of 5th- and 6th-grade girls, which have been supervised by Northwestern students in the past.

Koster’s troop does not sell on campus, instead signing up for locations at grocery stores and outside Barnes and Noble on Sherman Ave. Still, she used her connections at the University to make online sales to Northwestern students.

“We sold 800 boxes worth of cookies just by sending out a spreadsheet to a handful of people,” Koster said.

“One of the sororities bought over a hundred boxes.”

Koster said she recognizes why colleges are such good places to make sales. It’s convenient, she said, as people tend to walk to get around campus and the booths usually accept payment through Venmo, catering to students who do not carry cash.

On top of the convenience, she said there is a sentimental aspect to students’ love of Girl Scout Cookies, which hold a place in American culture.

“It’s kind of nostalgic,” Koster said. “Everyone knows and likes Girl Scout cookies.”

Students who missed the rush of Scouts to campus this Monday will have more opportunities to pick up a box, Koster said. The Scouts will sell cookies again over the upcoming weekend, either on campus or a short walk away in Downtown Evanston.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020

Q&A: Pritzker grad talks Cambridge mayorship

By CATHERINE BUCHANIEC

daily senior staffer @caty_buchaniec

After graduating from the Pritzker School of Law in 2014, Sumbul Siddiqui returned to her hometown of Cambridge, Massachusetts and embarked on a life of public service. This January, Siddiqui was elected as the mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, becoming the first Muslim mayor in the state.

Siddiqui, who is entering her second term on the Cambridge City Council, immigrated from Pakistan at the age of two. Raised in local affordable housing, Siddiqui went on to attend Brown University as an undergraduate student.

The Daily spoke to Siddiqui about her recent mayoral recent election and the impact Northwestern continues to have on her career.

The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

The Daily: What are you hoping to change in Cambridge during your time as mayor?

Siddiqui: I’m working on a range of things, including moving the needle finally toward universal pre-K. We’re also trying to do a lot more with affordable housing and work on zoning reform that would allow for building 100 percent affordable housing in our neighborhoods.

Something that I just recently accomplished was pushing for halal food options in our schools. We have a Muslim holiday in Cambridge and we celebrate it but parents were coming up to me and saying that we have kids who are going hungry. It is still not going to be halal every day but it’s moving toward that direction.

The Daily: Cambridge’s population is predominantly white. How has your identity as the first Muslim mayor in Massachusetts impacted your leadership and the community you’re

serving?

Siddiqui: I think that because of who I am, there’s just more people who feel like they can come to City Hall and think that they can come to city government for help. I always say that you can’t be what you can’t see, and I realized that while I’ve been in office, just the level of involvement people of color have shown, and want to show, is awesome. I’m able to connect with immigrants from all over and connect with the Muslim community.

The Daily: Earlier this year you gave an interview in which you told a reporter about discrimination that you faced when you first entered office. Has that continued since then?

Siddiqui: I think that it was just those headlines that were attracting people. I haven’t gotten any — I haven’t heard. I don’t even check the internet about it so if there are comments, I wouldn’t know.

The Daily: Do you have any advice for current undergraduate or graduate students looking to go into public service?

Siddiqui: I think it is important to talk to as many people as possible before you go into something, and for people who are going to grad school, I think it is important to get some financial aid if you can. Unfortunately, I think it does make a huge difference for folks.

Go to a school that gives you financial aid because that opens you up to more opportunities to do public service. It’s hard to do public service if you have student debt because monetarily, it’s obviously lucrative.

The Daily: What student debt do you still have?

Siddiqui: I have so many Pritzker student loans. It’s pretty sad — I’m never not going to pay those. cbuchaniec@u.northwestern.edu

Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Sumbul Siddiqui (Pritzker School of Law ’14) was elected as the mayor for the City of Cambridge this past January.

Trump commutes former Gov. Blagojevich’s sentence

By ANDREW MYERS

the daily northwestern

President Donald Trump granted clemency to several high-profile individuals on Tuesday, including former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested 12 years ago and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Blagojevich served as governor of Illinois from 2003 until 2009, when the Illinois state legislature impeached and removed him from office. He was arrested in 2008 on charges of conspiracy and soliciting bribes.

After an initial trial failed to convict Blagojevich due to a hung jury, a federal jur y ultimately convicted Blagojevich in 2011 on 17 of 20 corruption charges. One major charge centered on an attempt to sell then-President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Blagojevich served more than seven years of his 14-year sentence before Trump decided to commute it. Blagojevich was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Colorado later Tuesday night, according to NBC5 Chicago.

Blagojevich met Trump when he appeared on Trump’s show, Celebrity Apprentice, in Spring 2010. He was on season nine for a four-episode stint, before getting “fired” and

leaving the show. While firing him, Trump expressed praise for Blagojevich’s fight against the charges. After the sentencing, he said he was later dismayed about the verdict.

“You’ve got a hell of a lot of guts. You’re out there punching away,” Trump said in an episode.

Trump previously said the former governor’s sentence was “ridiculous,” and too long for the crimes of which Blagojevich was convicted.

A White House news release highlighted Blagojevich’s good character in prison and the desire of many politicians to shorten the sentence.

“People from across the political spectrum and from varied backgrounds have expressed support for shortening Mr. Blagojevich’s sentence, including Senator Dick Durbin (and others),” said the news release.

This news comes on the heels of Trump publicly lashing out on Twitter at Department of Justice prosecutors for recommending a seven- to nine-year prison sentence for the convicted Roger Stone, who was a Trump ally in the 2016 presidential election.

His wife Patti Blagojevich announced on Twitter a “homecoming” press conference will be held at her home at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning. andrewmyers2022@u.northwestern.edu

Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrives to Denver International Airport on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Colorado.

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WHITEMAN

UNDERWOOD

production and Native media representation.

Throughout his talk, he discussed his upbringing on the Wind River Reservation and his complicated relationship with Native American culture and representation. Whiteman also described some of his past work, including “The Final Meeting,” a short film that centers on an Arapaho superhero.

Whiteman talked about how his work exists outside of popular representations of Native Americans in history and media and challenges popular notions of what constitutes “Native Art.” “We’re all stuck in this mindset of Natives being historical,” Whiteman said, highlighting how the existence of Native Americans in contemporary society is often erased.“I do my best just to keep all of it grounded in the contemporary because my philosophy always has been start now and work your way backwards. Because even students, even Native students, have a tendency to forget that Natives still exist.”

Whiteman also described his ongoing work, like the production of a film adaptation of “Hamlet” set in contemporary society and featuring an all-Native American cast.

After the talk, Halka, the Exhibits and Creative Programs Library Assistant at the EPL commented on the role that institutions like the library have played in excluding certain perspectives like Whiteman’s.

“We are very aware of the history of libraries and public institutions in general being complicit in white supremacy and not amplifying all voices in our community,” Halka said. “Ernest’s perspective on the entire art world is really unique and powerful for a community like Evanston where art is very important.”

Halka added that Whiteman is the director for the First Nations Film and Video Festival, a celebration of Native American films, and in May, EPL will serve as a host site for the event.

Mary Jon Girard, an arts educator living in Evanston, said she found Whiteman’s work interesting and commended his efforts to challenge popular understandings of what constitutes Native American art.

“Major art movements from the mid-1800’s forward were always done through artists that were willing to deconstruct a preconceived idea of what art should be, and that’s how new movements got started.” Girard said. “And that’s what I think he’s doing.”

she has residency, and they don’t pay income taxes,” Underwood said of Oberweis. “He has very well-established bigoted and racist views — we know this. We know that those views are not in line with the 14th District.”

Underwood also emphasized her role as a bipartisan congresswoman who can appeal to a variety of voters. She said many Trump supporters voted for her in 2018, and hopes to continue that trend.

Although Evanston does not border District 14, Laura Tanner Swinand, one of the co-founders of Indivisible Evanston, said it is important for the group to support Underwood, as her views align strongly with theirs.

“Because we can’t vote for her, we want to

From page 1

matthewmarth2021@u.northwestern.edu

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WARREN From page 1

Democratic Party because she views the Senator as the race’s most electable candidate.

“She has a way of making the changes that are needed in a way that’s acceptable to the people,” Schakowsky said.

Biss said the media has underestimated the momentum behind Warren’s campaign. Despite her performance in early primaries, which was lower than expected, Biss said he predicts Warren will make gains as the race continues.

He said the Warren campaign’s strong onthe-ground presence in Illinois will facilitate her comeback.

“A lot of the campaigns were so focused on the early states, they still didn’t invest in organizing across the country the way that Warren has,” Biss said. “I believe that will pay dividends.”

Loyola University Chicago students Megan Drake and Annie Alderman said they are looking forward to supporting Warren through the new office.

They also said they expect the office to increase engagement with Warren’s campaign with students at both Loyola and Northwestern University.

“I’m definitely excited to start being more active canvassing and phone banking, now that there’s a location so close to us, so accessible off the Purple Line.” Drake said. “It’s great to be able to support a candidate that I really like.”

Shivani Desai, an organizer with Illinois for Warren, said grassroots energy ties the Evanston

For news, updates and campus photography, follow The Daily on Instagram:

@thedailynu

help educate the voters in her district, because we believe that the issues that are important to her are really important to us and to the country,” Swinand said.

Underwood stressed to Evanston residents that they might have to speak cautiously when helping her campaign in the district. She said they should speak on shared values as opposed to a “lack of empathy for our neighbors.”

Additionally, Underwood instructed those helping the campaign to maintain “awareness and discipline” when knocking on the doors of District 14 voters, who are generally not as liberal as many Evanston residents.

“Speaker Pelosi has a lot of sayings, but one of the things that she always tells us is that the things you can say in San Francisco you can’t say Michigan, but what you can say in Michigan, you can say San Francisco; you’re San Francisco, I’m

Michigan,” Underwood said.

Underwood also highlighted her Congressional achievements, which include working to improve health conditions for undocumented immigrants detained at the border and increasing insulin accessibility. The former senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focused many aspects of her speech on health care and advocated to lower the maternal mortality rate among women of color.

Darlene Cannon, who was born and raised in Evanston, said she thought Underwood articulated the issues she prioritizes well.

“It was refreshing to hear someone who’s young, who can identify the problems and wants to work on both sides to solve the issues that all Americans need,” Cannon said.

office to a national and global movement for structural change. She said Warren champions issues that are important to her, including climate change, gun violence and LGBTQ+ rights.

She said Warren’s supporters need to mobilize so that the movement’s energy can transform into votes.

“We can’t afford to only scream into the void,

or watch the news with our colorful commentary,” Desai said. “We have to transform the energy into knocking on doors and making calls. Into sharing that passion with undecided voters. If you believe in the vision that Elizabeth Warren is fighting for, we need you to sign up for shifts.”

jasonbeeferman2023@u.northwestern.edu

maiaspoto2023@u.northwestern.edu

Maia Spoto/Daily Senior Staffer

Former state Sen. Daniel Biss. Biss said Warren’s on-the-ground presence in states like Illinois will strengthen her primary performance as the race continues.

SPORTS

ON DECK FEB.

19

Women’s Basketball Rutgers at No. 18 NU, 7 p.m. Wednesday

ON THE RECORD

Ryan’s one of those guys, you love him because he just comes to work. He’s not the biggest athlete out there on the floor, but he finds a way.

— Chris Collins, coach

@DailyNU_Sports

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Wildcats hit 14th conference loss against Terrapins Maryland

By GREG SVIRNOVSKIY

daily senior staffer @gsvirnovskiy

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Northwestern last beat Maryland on March 10, 2017. To put that into perspective, Kawhi Leonard was still plying his trade for the San Antonio Spurs and President Donald Trump had only just taken office two months prior.

That team, led by Bryant McIntosh and current Orlando Magic talisman Vic Law, was gearing up for Northwestern’s first ever appearance in the National Tournament. They’d go on to win 24 games, taking down Vanderbilt in March and spawning the Crying Kid meme.

Times were different. That was three years ago.

Doomed by a sluggish first half, the Cats (6-19, 1-14 Big Ten) dropped a close game to Maryland (22-4, 12-3) Tuesday, their fifth straight loss to the Terrapins since that night in Washington, D.C almost three years ago.

It was a tale of two halves. Maryland opened the game on a 17-6 run and out-assisted NU 18 to 3 in the first frame. Things were different after halftime. Down 37-25 at the end of the first frame of play, the Cats outscored the Terrapins in the second.

“For a lot of our guys, they’ve never played here, which is just crazy,” coach Chris Collins said. “That’s how young this group is. I’m just really proud of coming in here, the way we competed against one of the best teams in America.”

Freshman guard Boo Buie is the Cats’ Kyrie Irving. At his best, he’s an artist. Spot up shots and scintillating

76

Northwestern

67

handles, all done at such a fast pace.

He showed out in the first half, accounting for 9 of Northwestern’s 25 points, shooting 4-9 from the floor.

Buie’s last basket was the most impressive of the bunch, an intense dribble sequence four minutes from the half in which he dropped on one knee before picking himself up and calmly sinking a jumper.

“As long as I’ve played basketball, every coach I’ve ever played for has just told me ‘just keep playing,” Buie said. “If a play breaks down just keep playing, never stop until you hear a whistle.’ I kind of just had to keep playing on instinct.”

Buie’s baskets helped to keep the game close early. Ryan Young’s rebounds did too. The freshman center had five in the first half, going toe to toe with Jalen Smith, Maryland’s superstar big man.

“I thought he was the one really early in the game that kind of settled us down,” Collins said. We went into him, he got some baskets and I thought that really got us going.”

Young finished the game with 17 points and 8 rebounds. He scored eight points early in the second half to key a run which brought NU’s deficit from 12 points to five.

Sophomore forward Miller Kopp also helped to tighten the score, pitching in with 13 points, all in the second frame of play. Kopp made 3 of the Cats’ 4 three point shots, grabbing three rebounds in the process.

Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman

gregorysvirnovskiy2022@u.northwestern.edu

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Cats aim to make it six straight Ryan Young impresses

By DREW SCHOTT

the daily northwestern @dschott328

After 25 games, No. 18 Northwestern is in a great position for the postseason.

The Wildcats are half-a-game back from first place in the Big Ten and are on track for a bye in the first two rounds of the Big Ten Tournament. According to ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme, the Cats are also projected to have homecourt advantage at Welsh-Ryan Arena as a No. 4 seed during the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

But to reap the rewards of postseason byes and playing in front of a home crowd, NU must continue to win. On Wednesday, the Cats (22-3, 12-2 Big Ten) will put their five-game victory streak on the line as Rutgers (18-7, 8-6) comes to Evanston.

NU’s offense will be challenged by the Scarlet Knights, who currently have the best scoring defense in the conference.

Giving up only 54.8 points per game, Rutgers’ defensive front is led by guard Arella Guirantes and forward Tekia Mack. Guirantes and Mack are the Scarlet Knights’ two top rebounders and Mack, a Chicago native, leads the team in steals, averaging 2.1 per game.

The Cats are also strong defensively, as the team only gives up 56 points per game, good for second in the Big Ten. And if NU’s offense — averaging nearly 75 points across its five-game win streak — continues its production, the Cats could outduel the Scarlet Knights, who have lost two of their last three games.

To win its sixth straight game, the Cats’ scorers must counter Rutgers’ tough defense. Currently, four NU

players average more than 10 points a game: junior guard Lindsey Pulliam, senior forward Abi Scheid, senior center Abbie Wolf and sophomore guard Veronica Burton.

Burton has been one of NU’s best players as of late, averaging 16.6 points over the win streak. Scheid, the nation’s top three-point shooter, has made 11 triples across the last five games. Off the bench, junior guard Jordan Hamilton is a crucial piece for the Cats, scoring 10 points including a crucial three-pointer in the team’s win over Nebraska.

But Pulliam’s performance may define whether NU beats their adversary. Despite making the game-winning jump shot against the Cornhuskers, the Cats’ leading scorer shot 1-for-13 from the field.

If she continues her poor shot selection, NU may struggle. But if the Maryland native — who averaged 21.5 points in the four games before facing Nebraska — gets back to her old ways, the Cats’ offense will be very difficult to stop.

NU has the key advantage of playing the Scarlet Knights on their home court. The Cats have won their last five games at Welsh-Ryan Arena and coach Joe McKeown is excited that NU gets to face Rutgers — one of the top teams in the conference — on its turf.

“What a great place to play, WelshRyan,” McKeown said. “It’s just a great atmosphere and a (great) arena.” drewschott2023@u.northwestern.edu

Daily file photo by Joshua Hoffman

Lindsey Pulliam shoots from behind the arc. The junior is one of NU’s best scorers, but struggled against Nebraska on Sunday.

in Northwestern’s loss

By BENJAMIN ROSENBERG

daily senior staffer @bxrosenberg

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Jalen Smith is one of the Big Ten’s best players.

A projected first-round NBA draft pick, Maryland’s sophomore forward entered Tuesday night’s game having recorded eight straight double-doubles, and he extended that streak against Northwestern in emphatic fashion, with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

Ryan Young is a redshirt freshman center who chose NU over, among others, Maryland. Though he’s been a solid player for much of the year, he hadn’t scored in double figures in a month and figured to be overmatched against a player like Smith.

But on Tuesday night at the Xfinity Center, Young more than held his own.

He didn’t put up a statline anywhere close to Smith’s, but still had his best game of Big Ten play, with 17 points and eight boards in the Wildcats’ (6-19, 1-14 Big Ten) 76-67 loss to the No. 7 Terrapins (22-4, 12-3).

“Somebody like (Smith), who has experience, has a big, physical frame, can come out and shoot the three, you have to be able to test yourself against that,” Young said. “He’s somebody I think I can model my game after. Getting ready to prepare against him is just working hard and trying to elevate your game to his level, because he can do a little bit of everything.”

Young carried NU at times on a night when its two top scorers, sophomore forward Miller Kopp and graduate transfer

guard Pat Spencer, struggled early on.

Maryland sprinted out to a 17-6 lead eight minutes into the game, and the Cats started just 1-for-10 from the field.

Coach Chris Collins said Young will benefit from playing against a player of Smith’s caliber and that he helped settle the team down after the rough start.

“They got off to a quick start and made some shots, and I thought he was the one early in the game who settled us down,” Collins said. “He got some baskets, and that got us going. I’m really excited to watch his growth.”

The Terrapins led by 12 at halftime, but Young helped key a 13-5 run early in the second half to help NU get as close as 48-44. He was on the floor for 29 minutes of action.

Maryland threatened to pull away several times after that, but Young kept NU within an arm’s length until the final minutes. He showed there is more to his game than just scoring, too — he had two blocks, including one on a Smith layup under the basket in the second half, as well as three assists, two of which were on crosscourt passes that set up open threepointers for Kopp.

Young registered his most points since scoring 25 on December 15 against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, and his most against a Power 5 opponent all season. His assist and block totals tied season highs.

“Ryan’s one of those guys, you love him because he just comes to work,” Collins said. “He’s not the biggest athlete out there on the floor, but he finds a way.” benjaminrosenberg2021@u.northwestern.edu